We stumbled into Gas Street Social recently after a night at the Christmas Market based on the glowing recommendations of the brum Yelp crowd. The restaurant, which has been open for less than a year, is located opposite the canal at the Mailbox complex. It's an attractive spot, especially when the weather cooperates and outdoor dining is an option. The decor is modern, with pallet wood looking trim, metal, industrial lights, and light rustic touches.
The sharing food culture was previously centered on a 90's/00's interpretation of tapas that moved away from the traditional free bites at Spanish bars and into something more elevated. Gas Street Social capitalizes on a further evolved concept of tapas that has become the 'sharing plate'. While there are a full complement of sides and entrees such as their extensive burger selection, the sharing plates are literally and figuratively front and center on the menu. Let's get the elephant out of the room first though. There are two food categories, french and tapas, that the mere mention of will send menu prices through the roof and into the stratosphere. The sharing plates at GSS range from £5.50 for tempura vegetables to a high of £7.95 for salmon skewers that are perhaps more artistic spectacle than stomach filler. These are not terrible prices by any means, but perhaps not as value oriented especially if you arrive with an appetite.
The key is to dine for Sunday dinner after their brunch time slot, where all of the sharing plates are priced competitively at £4. The other side of the menu hosts a diverse drink selection, including wines, and many good beers both on tap and in a bottle. During our dinner visit we sampled five sharing plates, a side of fries, and each of us (3 diners total) imbibed on a cider, stout, and wine. My two favorites of note were the gnocchi and the arancini balls. The gnocchi was made with wild mushrooms and shallots in a parmesan creme sauce. My palate came alive with the rich yet delicate balance of the dish. The arancini balls of deep fried risotto, mushroom, cheese, and truffle oil are a true guilty pleasure.
The total bill for the dishes and drinks came out to a very affordable £36. If you skip the drinks, you can obtain a veritable feast for 2-3 people from a local restaurant at a lower cost than many of the chains at the Mailbox. None of these places will look and feel as cool, either. It's nice to find a restaurant in City Centre that mirrors some of the most modern of food movements. read more